Plant Sterols and Sterolins: A Review of Their Immune-Modulating Properties

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Plant Sterols and Sterolins: A Review of Their Immune-Modulating

Properties

 

Alternative Medicine Review 1999 (Jun); 4 (3): 170–177 ~ FULL TEXT

 

Patrick J.D. Bouic, PhD and Johan H. Lamprecht, MD

 

Introduction

http://www.chiro.org/nutrition/ABSTRACTS/Plant_Sterols_and_Sterolins_

A_Review.shtml

 

Beta-sitosterol (BSS) is the major phytosterol in higher plants, and

is found in the serum and tissues of healthy individuals at

concentrations 800-1000 times lower than that of endogenous

cholesterol. Its glycoside, b-sitosterol glycoside (BSSG), is also

present in serum in even lower concentrations. 1 These molecules are

synthesized in plants; whereas animals obtain them through diet.

Many epidemiological studies of groups consuming diets rich in

vegetables and fruits have indicated a reduced incidence of various

types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other chronic

diseases. 2 Many of these studies have concentrated on the

protective effects of well-characterized molecules such as b-

carotene, tocopherols, vitamin C, and flavonoids. However, such

studies have ignored the relative importance of fats in the plants

consumed.

 

The scientific literature is replete with reports of the biological

activities of sterols or their glycosides in various animal models.

For instance, BSS and its glycoside have been shown to reduce

carcinogen-induced cancer of the colon in rats, 3 as well as

exhibiting anti-inflammatory, 4 anti-pyretic, 5 anti-complement

activity, 6 and insulin-releasing effects. 7

 

A proprietary mixture of BSS and BSSG (BSS:BSSG) was studied and

found to have profound immune modulating activities. Initial in

vitro studies were followed by clinical trials in patients with

chronic infectious diseases (tuberculosis, HIV, Human Papilloma

Virus [HPV]) and non-infectious conditions, such as allergies and

rheumatoid arthritis. The trials confirmed the importance of

BSS:BSSG in the management of such conditions.

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